Forty-two isn’t the answer, Douglas.

Today has been an interesting day that has unusually prompted some late night thinking. Something I shouldn’t be doing, considering how many meds I’m on, and, I’m home with family.

Spring Break for me started on a early Saturday morning in the Bozeman airport, after having been dropped at the curb so my gracious ride could get on his way to work 5 minutes later - I owe him big. So after I get through security (slow, but efficient for such a small airport), I park myself away from the crowds and next to some people who look to be the same age. I haven’t eaten, so I go to the newsstand grab some yogurt, fruit, coffee, and juice. I read the Time magazine - or was it Men’s Vogue - because the date, even old, was the closest to the one on my watch. Anyhow, I sit down, and just stare and observe.

Younger generations have lost sense of intellectual wonder or curiosity, and are content with being consumers with no ambition or ultimate, intrinsic purpose. These people walk into coffee shops, alone, with their iPod headphones still jammed in their ears, and shout their order above the music playing in their earbuds to the poor soul on the other side of the counter. We don’t value human contact anymore. We value self-reflection, and intrapersonal moments, rather than the interpersonal moments that should define the notion of Community and Society.

We as Americans have lost our sense of exploration and wonder. when once we used to marvel at space travel, now we complain when our XM loses reception. We’re completely motivated by self-gratification, and consumable, purchasable happiness. Bands like the Beatles no longer provide our social dogma, but instead, the misogynistic, uninspired rap idol that happens to be dominating the charts at the moment.